INDEPENDENCE -
is Future of Cinema that's happening now.
In 2022 we’re opening our hearts to all forms of independent filmmaking. MIAFF celebrate, screen, promote and work with independent creators. Here at the centre of Italian culture you’ll be immersed in the new era of cinematography. We’re screening works that have the power to evoke emotions and change minds.
What we do
Annual Event with screenings,
Q&A, lunch with filmmakers and different types of further collaborations will be held in January 30 2026.

SUBMIT
Awards&Prizes

Best Picture
Best Narrative Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Drama
Best Comedy
Best Horror
Best Thriller
Best Action
Best Sci-Fi
Best Fantasy
Film Best Crime Film
Best Mystery Film
Best Film Noir
Best Virtual Reality
Best Documentary
Best Animation
Best Microfilm
Best Indie Film
Best Web Series
Best TV Series
Best Web/TV Pilot
Best Music Video
Best Experimental Film
Best Inspirational Film
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Actor in an Indie Film
Best Actress in an Indie Film
Best Child/Young Actor
Best Child/Young Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Duo Best Ensemble
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Original Score
Best First Time Director (Feature)
Best First Time Director (Short)
Best Student Film
Best TV Series
Best Web/TV Pilot
Best Song in a Film
Best Sound Design
Best Visual Effects
Best Trailer
Best Original Story
Best Television Script
Best Screenplay Short
Best Screenplay Feature
Best First Time Screenwriter
SUBMIT
PAST EVENT
Live screening 2026
Milan Independent Film Festival - Winners

Finalists

Cash & Kari
Finalist

Cash & Kari

Best Screenplay Feature

Directed by

Dreamwalker
Finalist

Dreamwalker

Best Animation

Directed by Luca Schenato, Sinem Vardarli

Elisa
Finalist

Elisa

Best Picture

Directed by Sinan Sertel

False Mirror
Finalist

False Mirror

Best Screenplay Short

Directed by

Il mito di Celestre
Finalist

Il mito di Celestre

Best Child/Young Actor

Directed by EDOARDO FRANCESCHI

NORA ノラ
Finalist

NORA ノラ

Best Music Video

Directed by Serena Tripepi

Neustadt by Night
Finalist

Neustadt by Night

Best Film Noir

Directed by Alexander Krahl

Salem Not Salem
Finalist

Salem Not Salem

Best Actor

Directed by Omar Farooq

Shelters
Finalist

Shelters

Best Actress
Best Horror
Best Original Score

Directed by Kiko Prada

The Haven
Finalist

The Haven

Best Director
Best Narrative Short

Directed by Christopher Roberts

Themis is Tired
Finalist

Themis is Tired

Best Actor in an Indie Film
Best Actress in an Indie Film

Directed by Ilya Demutsky

US
Finalist

US

Best Experimental Film

Directed by Manuel mzeyfilms Zaffiro

Wild Coast Warriors
Finalist

Wild Coast Warriors

Best Documentary

Directed by Nick Chevallier, Leigh Wood, Guido Zanghi, Warren Smart

Official Selection

ABUELO
Selected Official

ABUELO

Official Selection

Directed by Fred Cavallini, Marcos Piacentini, Titta Notarangelo

Borderline
Selected Official

Borderline

Official Selection

Directed by Lorenzo Marelli

IT MADE ME FEEL GOOD
Selected Official

IT MADE ME FEEL GOOD

Official Selection

Directed by Massimiliano Vergani

OntologIA
Selected Official

OntologIA

Official Selection

Directed by Francesco Rivolta

Palestine Orbit
Selected Official

Palestine Orbit

Official Selection

Directed by Luca Miranda, Riccardo Retez

The Day the Strawberries Will Arrive
Selected Official

The Day the Strawberries Will Arrive

Official Selection

Directed by Omar Cremon

The Urban Comedy
Selected Official

The Urban Comedy

Official Selection

Directed by Pietro Michele Muzi Falconi

The art of the white flag
Selected Official

The art of the white flag

Official Selection

Directed by Riccardo Pittaluga

the time of the swordfish
Selected Official

the time of the swordfish

Official Selection

Directed by Domenico Lagano

Honorable Mentions

'88
Honorable Mention

'88

Best Web Series

Directed by Otilia Zaicu

Aghbash
Honorable Mention

Aghbash

Best Cinematography

Directed by Samad Ghorbanzadeh

Blue Moon Romance
Honorable Mention

Blue Moon Romance

Best Ensemble
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress

Directed by Howard Gensler

ESCAPE FROMCOLOR VILLAGE IOTS JOURNEY OF THE SOULU
Honorable Mention

ESCAPE FROMCOLOR VILLAGE IOTS JOURNEY OF THE SOULU

Best First Time Screenwriter

Directed by

Gumboro
Honorable Mention

Gumboro

Best Thriller

Directed by Dimitris Vavatsis

La forma imperfetta dei ricordi
Honorable Mention

La forma imperfetta dei ricordi

Best Duo

Directed by Elisa Adelaide Faccioni

My Roof
Honorable Mention

My Roof

Best Microfilm

Directed by Darko Kokić

My boyfriend, a mannequin
Honorable Mention

My boyfriend, a mannequin

Best First Time Director
Best Narrative Feature
Best Song in a Film

Directed by DMITRY NIKOLENKO

PHONONAUTA
Honorable Mention

PHONONAUTA

Best Sci-Fi

Directed by

SAQFA (Hopeless Clap)
Honorable Mention

SAQFA (Hopeless Clap)

Best Child/Young Actress
Best Original Story

Directed by Omar Saleh

Starving Artists
Honorable Mention

Starving Artists

Best Television Script

Directed by

THE PHONE CALL
Honorable Mention

THE PHONE CALL

Best Student Film

Directed by Rolando Danesi

The Secret of Maria Makinang
Honorable Mention

The Secret of Maria Makinang

Best Fantasy Film

Directed by Gian Arre

Touching the Sky VR
Honorable Mention

Touching the Sky VR

Best Virtual Reality

Directed by Jonathan Griffith

Where Is Wind Stranded
Honorable Mention

Where Is Wind Stranded

Best First Time Director (Short)

Directed by Ushio

Rules & Terms
Films must have been completed in the past 4 years.
We consider films regardless of their premiere status. Even if your film has already premiered at another festival, whether it screened at a physical venue or online, it’s still eligible for consideration.
The applicant holds the sole responsibility of copyright clearance of any copyrighted material in the film
The festival has the right to use a trailer, stills, pics and posters for promotional purposes in various film magazines, social media, websites, etc.
  • Entry fees are non refundable.
  • English subtitles are required for foreign language films.
  • Shorts must be less than 50 minutes.
All projects over 50 minutes should submit to the feature category.

  • The festival will only communicate with the submitter of the film project.
  • Festival reserves rights to change date and place of the annual event due to COVID - restrictions.
The Venue

Anteo Palazzo del Cinema

Piazza XXV Aprile, 8, Milan
Friday, January 30, 2026
Start Time: 20:00 (8 PM)

Secure Your Seat

Buy Tickets
Official Ticketing Partner FilmFreeway
Venue:Anteo Palazzo del Cinema (Sala Ciak)
Piazza XXV Aprile, 8, Milan, Italy
Date: Friday, January 30, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM (20:00)
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